Since 2011, 4Call has been a leading distributor and installer of nurse call systems. Their solutions provide senior living communities and nursing homes with wearable or bedside call buttons and wall-mounted pull cords tools designed to bring nurses directly to residents or enable communication through in-room speakers.
Senior living communities rely heavily on nurse/aide call systems to handle emergencies and resident requests. While functional, older systems primarily pager-based were slow, outdated, and lacked the ability to integrate with modern technologies. 4Call partnered with Solvative to modernize their platform, creating a system that not only solved existing pain points but also positioned them for future innovations like Alexa and Google Home integrations.
4Call challenged Solvative to identify key weaknesses and then develop middleware that would not only solve for those weaknesses, but also position the new system to work with emerging 21st century wireless technologies like Alexa and Google Home.
The Challenge
Until 2011, alerts were sent via pagers or callboards at nurse stations. With the rise of smartphones, 4Call recognized the opportunity to evolve their system but also understood that replacing entire installations was cost-prohibitive. They needed a way to modernize while still leveraging existing infrastructure.
Key challenges identified:
Slow Response Times - No ability to redirect calls or coordinate staff efficiently.
No Data Capture – No way to generate incident reports for insurance or record-keeping.
Complicated Training – Frequent staff turnover made onboarding slow and inefficient.
Outdated Devices – Reliance on pagers, which lacked 21st-century communication capabilities.
The Solution
Solvative designed and implemented a future-proof middleware platform that seamlessly integrated with 4Call’s existing hardware. This approach eliminated the need for costly full-scale replacements while unlocking modern communication capabilities and laying the foundation for future enhancements.
Key elements of the solution:
Software-First Approach – A middleware platform was built to integrate smoothly with existing 4Call hardware, allowing for fast and cost-effective installation without the need for full system replacements.
Device Modernization – The outdated pager system was replaced with iPhones, giving staff a more intuitive, familiar, and feature-rich device to handle.
Flexible Adoption – Communities could either provide a shared fleet of iPhones for staff or enable nurses and aides to install the app on their own devices, ensuring quick adoption and minimal disruption.
Scalability – The middleware was designed to support both older and newer hardware generations, providing longevity, adaptability, and a foundation for future integrations with smart technologies.
The Result
The new 4Call system significantly improved how staff and residents interact, delivering faster responses, simpler workflows, and greater reliability. By replacing outdated tools with a modern, app-based platform, caregivers gained better communication, administrators gained valuable insights, and residents received more attentive, informed care. Communities also experienced greater staff satisfaction and stability.
Data Capture and Retrieval Capability – Easy data input resulting in valuable analytics for administrative use and information that can be easily found and shared with resident families; it also puts critical medical details at staff’s fingertips in order to provide most informed care.
Connect From Anywhere – We eliminated range issues by building in fully functional VoiP which allows communications anywhere inside or outside the building.
Two-Way Chat Capability – Pagers only allowed for one-way communications. Because the new middleware is iPhone-based, it allows immediate communications between staff and also with residents.
Intuitive Screen Features – Bringing new staff up to speed is no longer a challenge. The new 4Call mirrors many familiar iPhone functions, so ramp up is simple and fast.
Immediate Alert Function – Alerts come into the user’s iPhone immediately, and work much like familiar text messaging. User response is equally fast.
Virtually No Downtime – Should there ever be issues with internet service, a hardware backup system will take over to continue seamless operations.
Rescuers received instant alerts with AED locations, enabling faster interventions and significantly improving survival chances during sudden cardiac arrest.
The solution earned recognition in the medical community, driving large-scale adoption and setting a new standard for emergency response technology.
By modernizing the system while preserving infrastructure, Solvative delivered a cost-efficient, user-friendly, and future-ready solution that strengthened caregiver–resident interactions and improved overall quality of care.
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